Apparatus for setting hot tops in ingot molds



Sept. 20, 196 A. s. MAZARAKIS APPARATUS FOR SETTING HOT TOPS IN INGOTMOLDS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 26, 1958 //V VE/VTOR ARTHUR 6. MAZARAK/S y W A f/arn ey Sept. 20, 1960 A. G. MAZARAKIS APPARATUS FOR SETTINGHOT TOPS IN INGOT MOLDS Filed June 26, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 xii YdINVENTOR ARTHUR a. MAZARAK/S 81,554,

Altar/ray United States Patent APPARATUS FOR SETTING HOT TOPS IN INGOTMOLDS Arthur G. Mazaraki's, Hubbard, Ohio, assignor to United StatesSteel Corporation, a corporation of New Jersey FiledJune 26,1958, Ser.No. 744,732

11v Claims. (CI. 22-31) This invention relates to apparatus for settinghot tops in ingot molds and more particularly to setting sectional hottops such as shown in the oopending Marburg application Serial No.581,181, filed April 27, 1956, now Patent No. 2,900,685, granted August25, 1959. While specifically adapted for handling sectional hot tops,the apparatus may also be used for one piece hot tops. Hot tops,particularly sectional hot tops, are diflicult to insert in the ingotmold since the slabs of the hot tops are heavy and difiicult to handle.A crew of three or more men is necessary to manually fit the hot topinto the ingot mold. The crew must work on top of the ingot mold wherethey are exposed to very hazardous conditions. To the hazards, expensivesafety devices such as portable platforms, ladders or hanging steps areused. Thus a great deal of labor and time is required to set the hottop.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide apparatus formechanically inserting ahot top into a mold.

Another object is to provide such apparatus which enables the hot top tobe set in place quickly with little danger of breakage.

These and other objects be more apparent after referring to thefollowing specifications and attached drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of the hot top setting apparatus;

Figure 2 is an endelevation of the setting apparatus of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is'an' enlarged view of the lower part of Figure 1 showing thehot. top slabs about to be inserted within the mold; and

Figure 4 is. a similar view showing the hot top slabs inserted in themold;

Referring more particularly .to the drawings, the reference numeral 2indicates the frame of my machine. The frame consists of a cross bar 4intermediate the height of the frame fromwhich a bar 6, shaped in theform of an inverted U,. extends vertically upwardly. Reinforcing plates8 are welded to the top of the bar so that an opening 10 is provided toreceive a crane hook. A pair of retainer bars 12" is: fastened to thebottom of'cross bar' li at opposite ends thereof. A stop bar' orpositioning member 114 extends between the bars 12 at one end thereof. Abox-like platen 16 extends downwardly from the bar 4. Cross members 18are fastened to and extend between the vertical legs of the bar 6. Crossbars 20 extend between the sides of the platen 16' intermediate" theheight thereof. The parts so far, described as making up the frame 2 arewelded or otherwise fastened together. An upper platen 22 is slidablymounted on bars ;6 by means; of bushings 24. A, cross'member 26 extendsbetween the bushings 24 and: supports spaced plates 28 which extenddownwardly theref'rom., A Bar 30 is fastened to the outside of eachplate. 28'" adjacent the top thereof so as to providehorizontalshouldersl A hydraulic motor 32 is pivotally 2,952,886Patented Sept. 20, 1960 mounted on the plates 18' with its piston rod 34con-. nected to the cross member 26. Fluid from source 36 is supplied tomotor 32 through control valve 38" and conduits 40 and 42. A pair ofhydraulic motors 44 are pivotally mounted on the cross plates 20. Fluidis supplied thereto from source 36 through valve 38v and conduits 46 and48; A pair of hinged supports 50 are mounted on platen '16 by means ofpivot pins 52. The inner ends of the supports 50 are connected to pistonrods- 54 of the hydraulic motors 44.

In operation, the bottoms of side slabs S arelplaced on the supports 50with their to'ps thereof resting against retainer bars 12 and onevertical edge thereof resting. against the top bar 14. Tongues T of endslabs E are then placed in grooves G of the side slabs S as shown inFigure 3'. The canted position of the side slabs S prevents the endslabs. E from falling into place until the device is lowered into mold Mto the depth shown in Figure 4. When so lowered, the hinged supports 50'are rotated so that their outer ends move downwardly as shown. This isdone by means of valve 38 which controls flow of fluid through conduits46 into the tops of the hydraulic'motors 44. The end slabs" E then slideinto position and the upper platen 22 is moved downwardly by fluidflowing through conduit 40 into the top of hydraulic motor 32. Thiscauses the plates 30' to bear against the top of end pieces E forcingthem' downwardly so as to wedge the slabs. S and E into final" positionagainst the walls of mold M. A crane then moves the apparatus upwardlyout of the mold. It will be seen that the retainer bars 12' limit thedistance that the hot top is inserted into the mold. Pins P'on the sideslab S also aid in supporting the hot. top on the mold. It will beunderstood that the retainer" bars 12' may be vertically adjustable soas to adjust for depth of insertion of the hot top and bars 12 and 14maybeadjusted horizontally to handle different sizes of hottops.

While one embodiment of'my' invention has been shown and described,it'will be apparent that other adapta' tions and modifications may bemade without departing from the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1'. Apparatus for inserting a hot top into an ingot mold comprising aframe" including a bottom platen of such size to be receivable withinthe mold, a pair-0F supports pivotally mounted on opposite sides of'said? platen adjacent the bottomthereof and extending out wardlytherefrom; means for moving said supports around their pivots from agenerally horizontal extended posi tion outwardly of said platen to aretracted position, said supports being adapted to receive the bottom"edge of said hottop when in extended position, an upper platenslidablymounted on said frame, said upper platen in cluding a pair ofopposeddownwardly' extending plates and a-horizontal shoulder-on theoutside of each of-saidplates adjacent the topthereof, said shouldersbeing adapted to engage the topof said hot top, andmeans for moving saidupperplaten in a vertical path.

2. Apparatusfor inserting a hot top into ingot mold comprising a frameincluding a bottom platen of such size as to'be receivable within themold, a pair-.-

of supports pivot-ally mounted on opposite sides of said' platenadjacent the bottom thereof and extending'out wardly therefrom, meansfor moving said supports around their pivots from a generally horizontalextended p'osi- I tion outwardly of said platen to-a retractedposition}3; Apparatus for inserting a hot top'into an ingot mold comprising aframe including a bottom platen of such size as to be, receivable withinthe mold, atpairof supports pivotally mounted on oppositesidesjofflsaidj platen adjacent the bottom thereof and extendingoutwardly therefrom, means for 7. moving said supports around theirpivots from a generally horizontal extended position outwardly of saidplaten to a retracted posi-- tion," said supports being adapted toreceive the bottom edge of said hot top when in extended position, apair of retainers mounted on saidframeone' above each of said supportsto limit lateral movement of said hot top, an upper platen"slidablymounted on said frame, said upper platen including a pair of opposeddownwardly extending'plates and a horizontal shoulder on the out-' sideof each of, said last named plates adjacent the top.

thereof, said shoulders being adapted to engage, the top of said hottop, and means for moving said upper platen in avertic'alpath.

v4.'Apparatus for inserting a hot top into an ingot mold comprising aframe including a bottom platen ofsuchsize as to be receivable withinthe mold, a pair of supports pivotally mounted on oppo'site'sides ofsaid platen adjacent'the bottom thereof and extending outwardlytherefrom, means for moving said supports around their pivots from, agenerally horizontal extend-- ed position outwardly of said platen to aretracted position, said supports being adapted to receive the bottomedge of said hot top when in extended position, a pair of retainersmounted on said frame one above each of said supports to limit lateralmovement of said hot top, and a positioning member located at one end ofeach -of said retainers to limit lateral movement of said hot top.

SIA paratus 'for inserting a hottop into an ingot mold comprising aframe including a bottom platen of' such size as to be receivable'withinthe mold, a pair of supports pivotally mounted on opposite sides of saidplaten adjacent the bottom thereof, and extending out-' sitioning memberlocated at one end of each of said re tainers to limit lateral movementof said hot top, an up- 'per platen slidably mounted on said frame, saidupper platen including a pair of opposed downwardly extending plates anda horizontal shoulder on the outside of each of said plates adjacent thetop thereof, said shoulders being adapted to engage the top-of said hottop, and

means for moving said upper platen in a vertical path.

a 6. Apparatus for inserting a four-piece'hot topinto an'ingot moldcomprising a frame including an intermediate cross member and aplatenattached to and extending downwardly from said cross member, saidplaten being of such size as to be receivable within the mold, atpair,of supports pivotally mounted on opposite'sides of said platenadjacentthe bottom-thereof and extending outwa ly th r m; m a v or m ng a d pp raround their pivots from a generally horizontal extended positionoutwardly of said platen to a retracted position,

said: supports being adapted to receive the bottom edge of two; opposedfhot toppieces when inex tended pos1- tion, and :a pair of retainersmounted on said frame one above each of said supports, 'said retainersbeing adapted mpre n o w rdmov m ntnf fi P i f S d 01 posed hot -toppieces j; 1 f ,1 i j 7 Apparatusffor inserting a four-piece hot top intoanin'got moldcomprisinga frame having an intermediate cross imember anda .platen attached to and extending downwardly from .said cross member,said platen being of such size re receivable the mold, apairr of twoopposed hot top pieces whenin extended position, a pair of retainersmounted on said frame one above each of said supports, said retainersbeing adapted to prevent outward movement of the tops of said opposedhot top pieces, an upper platenslidably mounted on said frame, said,upper platen including a pair of opposed downwardly extending plates anda'horizontal shoulder on the outside of each'of said plates adjacent thetop thereof, said shoulders being adapted to engage the tops of the hottop pieces positioned between the c said two opposed hot top pieces, andmeans for moving said upper platen in a vertical path. 7

8. Apparatus for inserting a four-piece hot top into an ingot moldcomprising a frame including an intermediate cross member and a platenattached to and extending downwardly from said cross member, said platenbeing of such size as to be receivable'within the mold, a pair ofsupports pivotally mountedon opposite sides of said platen adjacent thebottom thereof and extending outwardly therefrom,,means for moving saidsupports around their pivots from a generally horizontal extendedposition outwardly of said platen to a retracted position, said supportsbeing adaptedto receive the bottom edge of two opposed hot top pieceswhen in extended position, a pair of retainers mounted on said frame one7 above each of said supports, said retainers being adapted to preventoutward movement of the tops of said opposed hot top pieces, and apositioning member located at one end of each ofsaid, retainers to limittransverse movement of'said two opposed 'hot top pieces.

9. Apparatus for inserting a four-piecehot top'into an ingot moldcomprising a frame including an intermediate cross member and a platenattached to and extending downwardly from said cross member, said platenbeing of such size as to be receivable within the, mold, a pair ofsupports pivotally mountedj on opposite sides of said platen adjacentthe bottom thereof'and extending outwardly therefrom, means for movingsaidtsupports around their pivots from a generally horizontal extendedposition outwardly of said platen to a retracted position, said supportsbeing adaptedto receive'the bottorn edge of two opposedhot'top'pieces'iwhen in extended position, a pair of retainers mountedon said frame one-above each of said supports, said retainers beingadapted to prevent outward movement of the: tops of said opposed hot toppieces, apositioning member located at one end of each of said retainersto limit transverse rnovement of said two opposed h'ot top pieces, an

upper platen slidably mounted on said frame, said upper platenincludingapair of opposed downwardly extending plates and a horizontalshoulder .on the outside of each of said plates adjacent the topthereof, said being of such size as to be'recei'vable the mold, a

' pair of supports pivotally mounted on'oppositesides of said platenadjacent: the' bottom: thereof" and extending outwardly therefrom,means,- for movingi said supports around their pivotsiir'om agenerallvhori'zontalfextended position out wafdly of said platentoja'iretr'actedlposition,

T said supports being a'claptedto'receive the; bottom edge of twoopposed hot tep pieces whenin' extended position,

a. pair of retainer bars attached to the'botton'rof said cross member atopposite ends thereof one above each of said supports, said retainersbeing adapted to prevent outward movement of the tops of said opposedhot top pieces, a positioning member located at one end of each of saidretainer bars to limit transverse movement of said two opposed hot toppieces, a pair of spaced legs attached to and extending upwardly fromsaid cross member, an upper platen slidably mounted on said legs, saidupper platen including a pair of opposed downwardly extending plates anda horizontal shoulder on the outside of each of said plates adjacent thetop thereof, said shoulders being adapted to engage the tops of the hottop pieces positioned between the said two opposed hot top pieces, andmeans for moving said upper platen in a vertical path.

11. Apparatus for inserting a four-piece hot top into an ingot moldcomprising a frame including an intermediate cross member and a platenattached to and extending downwardly from said cross member, said platenbeing of such size as to be receivable within the mold, a pair ofsupports pivotally mounted on opposite sides of said platen adjacent thebottom thereof and extending outwardly therefrom, means for moving saidsupports around their pivots from a generally horizontal extendedposition outwardly of said platen to a retracted position, said supportsbeing adapted to receive the bottom edge of two opposed hot top pieceswhen in extended position,

a pair of retainer bars attached to the bottom of said cross member atopposite ends thereof one above each of said supports, said retainersbeing adapted to prevent outward movement of the tops of said opposedhot top pieces, a positioning bar extending between said retainer barsat one end thereof to limit transverse movement of said two opposed hottop pieces, a pair of spaced legs attached to and extending upwardlyfrom said cross mem ber, an upper platen slidably mounted on said legssaid upper platen including a pair of opposed downwardly extendingplates adapted to move downwardly between said retainer bars and ahorizontal shoulder on the outside of each of said plates adjacent thetop thereof, said shoulders being adapted to engage the tops of the hottop pieces positioned between the said two opposed hot top pieces, andmeans for moving said upper platen in a vertical path.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,063,676 Hively Dec. 8, 1936 2,117,311 Gathmann May 17, 1938 2,751,649Peterson June 26, 1956 2,768,019 Brooks Oct. 23, 1956 2,800,355 VinnerJuly 23, 1957

